Key retainer

ABSTRACT

A novel key retaining means provided with a leaf spring mounted within the hollow portion of a key ring stem holder. The holder has at least one stem receiving opening normally blocked by the spring to prevent accidental removal of the stem after its insertion. Removal of the stem is effected by moving it into a selected position in which the leak spring may be depressed to clear the opening.

United States Patent [191 Lauf er Nov. 13, 1973 KEY RETAINER Berek Laufer, 390 Ocean Pky., Brooklyn, N.Y. 11218 Filed: Jan. 26,1972

Appl. No.: 220,736

Inventor:

[52] US. Cl 70/456 B [51] Int. Cl A44b 15/00 [58] Field of Search p 3 ..70/456-459; 150/40; 2473 K [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,038,070 4/1936 Welch 150/40 3,006,182 10/1961 Hanna.....

2,679,674 6/1954 Hanna 70/456 B Legat 70/456 B Van Buren 70/456 B Primary Examiner-Robert L. Wolfe AttorneyEugene E. Geoffrey, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT A novel key retaining means provided with a leaf spring mounted within the hollow portion of a key ring stem holder. The holder has at least one stem receiving opening normally blocked by the spring to prevent accidental removal of the stem after its insertion. Removal of the stem is effected by moving it into a selected position in which the leak spring may be depressed to clear the opening.

4 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures KEY RETAINER This invention relates generally to key retainers and, more particularly, to key retainers of the type carried in a pocket or purse. Key retainers of this type generally provide for the insertion and removal of a plurality of keys all held in a handy carrying case. Each key is usually mounted independently of the others and may be moved from a protected position within the case to its use position independently of the other keys.

Prior art key retainers generally use complicated and easily disabled mechanisms for retaining keys. Most common of these is the key stem holder type which utilizes a sliding bar to block and fill the openings provided in the holder for the key rings. This construction is conventional and utilizes a separate ring and stem for holding each key, each stem being insertable in a different slot provided in the holder.

In accordance with the present invention, a leaf spring is provided in the hollow portion of a ring stem holder to normally block the widened slot sections used for insertion and removal of stems. In its normal position, the leaf spring blocks the widened slot section so that a stem carried in the hollow portion, although free to move in the slot, cannot accidentally slip out through the widened slot section. The leaf spring extends partially into the hollow to allow forcible movement of the stem from one side of the spring to the other. To remove the stem, it is simply moved to the side of the spring blocking the widened slot section. Pressure is then applied to resiliently displace the leaf spring to permit movement of the stem to the widened section for removal. Insertion is achieved by following the above in reverse order.

It can be appreciated that the device of the instant invention is a simple, straight-forward, trouble-free item which avoids the complications of prior art devices. Furthermore, it permits insertion and removal of one stem at a time with little danger of having other stems dislodged, contrary to the prior art sliding bar device which frees all stems at the same time. Still further, this device is virtually impossible to break whereas the prior art device can become inoperative by simple loss, breakage or dislodgement of the little coil spring used to return the slide bar to a locking position.

Referring now to the drawings wherein a single preferred embodiment is shown and wherein like numerals refer to like parts:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a blank which is formed into a holder for key ring stems.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a leaf spring for use with the holder blank of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the formed blank of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the completed holder and leaf spring assembly.

FIG. 5 shows the assembly of FIG. 4 mounted in a carrying case.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the carrying case of FIG. 5.

FIGS. 7-10 illustrate the steps for inserting a stem into and removing it from the completed holder of FIG.

Referring to the drawings, numeral 20 denotes a blank foldable into a holder 21 for key ring stems 22. Blank 20 is provided with a plurality of elongated slots 24 which, when the blank is folded to the shape shown in FIG. 4, provides a curved path for the stem 22 to ride in. One end of each slot 24 is widened out as at 26 to provide an entrance-exit point for the enlarged head 28 of ring stem 22.

When blank 20 is folded, a leaf spring 30 is inserted.

between lips 32. The length of the leaf spring is sufficient to block each widened section 26, and its height is such as to permit free movement of the enlarged stem head 28 from one side of the spring to the other within the hollow portion 34 of the holder.

To facilitate assembly of the holder 21 and leaf spring 30, each is formed with a plurality of matching openings 36 which align with each other. To facilitate assembly, it is preferable to punch the openings in one leg 32 of the holder to form flanges 38 (FIG. 3) for securing the legs 32 together. It is to be understood that separate rivets may be used instead of the flanges shown.

To complete the assembly of the holder and ring stems, a conventional carrying case 40 is provided. Carrying case 40 has a plurality of openings 42 (not shown) to accept rivets 43. After mounting holder 21 in the carrying case, the rivets 43 are expanded by conventional means to firmly and permanently anchor the holder to the carrying case.

The operation of the novel leaf spring in the holder 21 can be readily observed in FIGS. 7-10. Leaf spring 28 is mounted in holder 21 so that it blocks widened sections 26 to passage of the enlarged stem ends 28. To insert a stem end, leaf spring 30 is depressed by pushing the enlarged stem end against it. As the leaf spring is depressed, it clears opening 26 to permit enlarged end 28 to enter the hollow 34 after which it is moved upwardly and around the leaf spring to the other side thereof, as shown in FIG. 9. To remove the stem, the reverse operation is followed as shown in FIG. 10.

Forbest results, the holder 21 is mounted in the carrying case so that the widened section 26 is directed adjacent the rear 42 of the case. In this way the stems are inserted and removed from the rear and enjoy free movement within slots 24 when the stems are positioned for use (FIGS. 5 and 9).

It is to be understood that many modifications of the above described invention will occur to those skilled in the art, and it is intended to cover all such modifications which fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

l. A key retainer comprising a tubular holder, a leaf spring mounted within said holder, and a ring stem having an expanded head portion, said holder being formed from an integral blank folded upon itself to provide a widened hollow section and rear and front legs; said widened hollow section being offset from and joined to said rear leg to form an inwardly directed L- shaped junction and having an inwardly slopping front wall terminating in said front leg disposed parallel to and overlying said rear leg; said widened hollow section having at least oneannular slot, said slot having a widened portion formed in said inwardly directed L- shaped junction and adapted to receive said ring stem; said leaf spring being disposed between said legs, and having an upwardly extending portion bearing against the widened portion of said slot at said L'shaped junction to provide a resilient restraint to insertion and withdrawal of the expanded head of said ring stem.

2. A key retainer according to claim 1, wherein each of said legs of said holder and said leaf spring are provided with at least one matched opening and means to secure said holder and leaf spring together.

4. The key retainer specified in claim 2 further comprising a carrying case and means for securing said leaf spring and holder to said carrying case. 

1. A key retainer comprising a tubular holder, a leaf spring mounted within said holder, and a ring stem having an expanded head portion, said holder being formed from an integral blank folded upon itself to provide a widened hollow section and rear and front legs; said widened hollow section being offset from and joined to said rear leg to form an inwardly directed L-shaped junction and having an inwardly slopping front wall terminating in said front leg disposed parallel to and overlying said rear leg; said widened hollow section having at least one annular slot, said slot having a widened portion formed in said inwardly directed L-shaped junction and adapted to receive said ring stem; said leaf spring being disposed between said legs, and having an upwardly extending portion bearing against the widened portion of said slot at said L-shaped junction to provide a resilient restraint to insertion and withdrawal of the expanded head of said ring stem.
 2. A key retainer according to claim 1, wherein each of said legs of said holder and said leaf spring are provided with at least one matched opening and means adapted for securing said leaf spring and said legs to each other through said openings.
 3. A key retainer according to claim 2, wherein at least one of said openings in at least one or said legs is punched to form a hollow rivet adapted for expansion to secure said holder and leaf spring together.
 4. The key retainer specifiEd in claim 2 further comprising a carrying case and means for securing said leaf spring and holder to said carrying case. 